Electric iron



March 1, 1949. sc r 2,462,942

ELECTRIC IRON Filed May 1. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS 6? 4'? "C2. ZULZd/ ATTORNEYS.

ELECTRIC IRON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1. 1944 &

INVENTORS Wi wam Arron/days.

Patented Mar. 1, 1949 ELECTRIC IRON Fred Busch, Wauwatosa. and Alfred Wild, Milwaukee, Win, assign an to American Thermo Appliance 00., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 1, 1944, Serial No. 533,496

' Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in the art of manufacturing fiat irons and the like, and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of electrically energized or heated irons.

The primar object of our invention is to provide various improvements in the construction of electric irons, whereby the cost of construction is reduced to a minimum, while the eillciency thereof is enhanced to a maximum.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a compact and durable electrically heated fiat iron, which may be readily assembled or dismantled, and all parts of which are normally protected but conveniently accessible.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved fiat iron which is attractive in appearance, safely operable, and quickly adjustable to meet various operating conditions.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an electric iron in which undesirable heat radiation and losses are minimized, and which may be set or adjusted to insure accurate functioning of the unit.

Still another specific object of our present invention is to provide ample ventilation of the manipulating handle of a fiat iron or the like, in order to prevent excessive heating thereof.

An additional specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved fiat iron assemblage of strong construction, which may be easily manipulated, and various parts of which may be removed, inspected, and renewed if necessary.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an electric iron wherein the relatively frail electric elements are concealed and normally well protected, and the various parts of which may be readily manufactured and assembled so as to produce highly attractive units at moderate cost.

These and other specific objects and advantages of our present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description; and some of the improved features of fiat-iron construction disclosed but not specifically claimed herein, form the subject of co-pending applications Serial No. 507,980, filed October 26, 1943,

now Patent No. 2,419,705, issued Apr. 29, 1947,.

and Serial No. 519,482, filed January 24, 1944, now abandoned.

A clear conception of the various features constltuting our present invention, and of the construction and operation of electric fiat irons embodying these features, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein the several parts are referred to by suitable reference characters.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one of our improved electric fiat irons;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the ironing unit of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the casing, shoe, and some of the control mechanism, the section having been taken along the line 3-4 of F18. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the same unit with the handle removed, and having portions thereof broken away to reveal lower structure;

Fig. 5 is another top view of the ironing shoe and some of the heating and control mechanisms, the main casing and handle having been removed;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the handle assemblage of the improved ironing unit; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical central section through a portion of the electrical apparatus, the section being taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

While the invention has been shown and described as being especially applicable to an electric fiat-iron unit adapted primarily for household use, it is not our desire or intent to unneccessarily limit the scope by virtue of such specific embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, the improved electric fiat-iron specifically shown, comprises in general, a work engaging base or 'shoe 9 having a fiat and smooth lower face l0 and a recessed top; an electric heating element I l snugly confined within the top recess of the shoe 9 by means of a thin plate l2 having a, thermostatic control switch l3 mounted thereon; a main hollow casing it coacting with the shoe 9 to enclose the switch I3 and to provide a sealed heating chamber I 5 exposed to the tops of the shoe 9 and heating element II: a manipulating handle it disposed centrally above the casing l4 and having an enlarged base l8; a spacing member or perforated band I! interposed between the casing I4 and handle base It to provide a ventilating air gap between these parts: and electric current conducting and control mechanism for energizing the heating element I I.

The hoe 9 is preferably formed of suitable metal and is of generally triangular shape, and the rear end IQ of the shoe 9 is straight and provides sharp corners for performing certain classes of work. The main casing i4 is formed of sheet metal and has rearwardly extending laterally spaced projections 20 which are cooperable with an end projection 2| formed on the handle I, to provide a three-point support for the iron when not in use; and since the casing l4 projects rearwardly beyond the rear end I! of the shoe 9, the chamber l5 at its rear lower portion is enclosed by a metal plate 22 secured to the shoe 9 by means of screws 23. This closure plate 22 is preferably inclined rearwardly and upwardly as shown in Fig. 1, in order to permit the operator to see the rear end IQ of the shoe 3 while at work; and the front part of the plate 22 also overlaps the rear portion of the heater retaining plate |2 as shown in Fig. 5 so as to normally hold the latter and the heating element within the top recess of the shoe 9. The sheet metal casing i4 is detachably secured to the shoe 9 by means or two upright hexagonal posts 24, 25 disposed within the chamber l5 and each having a threaded lower end screwed into the shoe, and by cap screws 26 coacting with the top of the casing l4 and with threaded sockets formed in the upper ends of the posts; and the heater retaining plate i2 is additionally clamped in position by means of a washer 21 engaged by the lower end of the front post 24. The casing I4 is thus firmly but removably secured to the shoe 9, and the heating element H is likewise secured within the upper recess of the shoe 3.

The top of the metal casing l4 also has three hollow bosses 23 rigidly attached thereto and extending upwardly therefrom as shown in Figs l and 4, and the base portion I!) of the handle I6 is provided with three rigid pins 29 the lower ends of which are adapted to snugly fit the central openings in these bosses 28. A small clamping screw 30 is screw threaded in each of the bosses 28 and is adapted to clamp the corresponding handle retaining pin 29 to the adjacent boss, thu providing simple means for firmly but removably attaching the handle 16 to the main casing M. The continuous spacer band I! which is interposed between the handle base l8 and the top of the main casing I4, is provided with an endless series of perforations or openings 3!, and the top of this band I1 fits within a peripheral recess 32 formed in the handle base l8 while the bottom of the band I! has a series of local projections 33 which fit into positioning notches 34 formed in the top of the casing l4 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. The several clamping screws 30 are accessible with the aid of a wrench 35 through adjacent openings 3| of the band i! as clearly disclosed in Fig. 4, in order to efiect attachment or removal of the handle l6; and the perforated band I! while providing a relatively large ventilating space between the casing I4 and handle IB, has only limited contact with the metal casing M at the local projections 33.

The handle l6 and base iii are formed integral with each other of wood, plastic or other suitable material having low heat conductivity, and the handle base i8 is considerably widened beneath the grip portion so as to span the top of the metal casing M. The handle base it is also provided with a medial circular recess 36 and a cut-out 31 disposed directly beneath the handle grip and which is cooperable with the heater control mechanism, and the handle is moreover provided with a rear end socket 38 which is cooperable with the electric current conductors. The current conducting wires 39 enter the iron assemblage through a bushing do secured to the rear of the handle base It, and are connected to the conductor pins M within an insulation block 42 which is slip fitted within the handle socket 33. and the parallel pins 4| are adapted to snugly coact with conducting tubes 43, 44 mounted upon the plate 22 but insulated therefrom, see Figs. 6 and '7. The conducting tubes 43, 44 are snugly embraced by insulating sleeves 45 as shown in detail in Fig. '7; and in order to insure proper contact between the pins 4| and the adjacent tubes 43, 44 when the former are slipped into the latter during attachment of the handle It to the casing l4, small coil springs 46 are interposed and compressed between the ends of the pins 4| and the closed bottoms of the tubes 43, 44.

The conductor tube 43 is connected to one terminal of the heating element II by a strip conductor 41; while the other conducting tube 44 is connected to one contact of the thermostatic switch l3, the other contact of which is also connected to the other terminal of the element II, by means of flexible conductors 48, 49 respectively, see Fig. 5. The thermostatic switch l3 which is confined within the heating chamber 15 by the casing l4, may be of any suitable type, the two contacts of which are relatively adjustable to vary the heat generated by the element II, and such adjustment may be readily effected with the aid of the improved control mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. This mechanism is mounted upon the main casing l4 centrally of the recess 36 and comprises a graduated thumb wheel 50 normally rotatably adjustably confined within the handle recess 36, a threaded shaft or spindle 5| rotatable by the wheel 50 and having quick pitch screw thread coaction with a fixed bushing 52 rigidly secured to the casing l4, and an adjustable set screw 53 mounted centrally within the spindle 5|. and coacting with an upper adjustable contact carrying arm 54 of the thermostatic switch 53. The thumb wheel 50 has suitable calibrations on its upper surface which are visible through the handle cut-out 31 as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the lower face of the wheel 50 is provided with a socket or segmental slot 55 which is cooperable with a. fixed pin 56 carried by a bracket 5'8 to limit the rotative motion of the wheel to less than one revolution. The adjustable indicator wheel 50 has a central serrated opening which is slip fitted upon the upper serrated or toothed end 53 of the spindle 5|, and the set screw 53 has a head which engages a spring lock washer 59, so that the screw 53 may be adjusted slightly relative to the spindle 5| in order to obtain accurate initial setting of the wheel 50 and spindle iii. The wheel 50 may also be applied to the spindle 5| in several positions by virtue of the serrated end 53, thus further insuring utmost accuracy during initial setting of the wheel; and when the wheel is rotated, the spindle 5| will move up or down to vary the heat applied to the shoe 9.

During manufacture of the improved electric iron, most of the parts may 'be readily manufactured with the aid of punches and dies, and after the shoe 9, heating element ll, thermostat l3 and thermostat control mechanism have been properly assembled with the pOstsZl, 25 applied to the shoe 3, the main casing l4 with the control mechanism applied thereto may be rigidly attached to the shoe 9 by merely applying the two screws 26 to the posts 24, 25. The wheel 58 may then be applied to the spindle 5i in the proper position, whereupon the ventilating band H and handle it may be finally applied with the aid of .a wrench 35 in an obvious manner. The electric current supply cords or wires 39 will then be properly electrically connected to the thermostat l3 and heating element H, all of which are enclosed within or exposed to the heating chamber I5, and when the current is turned on the element II will be energized so as to heat the shoe 9 and the chamber 15 and to cause the thermostat to function. Depending upon the class of work which is to be performed, the thumb wheel 50 may be adjusted to any desired position whereupon the thermostatic switch l3 will automatically function to maintain the shoe 9 properly heated. If it is desired to shut off the heat momentarily, this can also be done by shifting the wheel 50 to one of its limiting positions, and the iron may then be set endwise upon a support by utilizing the casing and handle projections 20, 2|. During normal use of the iron, all lower edge portions of the shoe 9 will be plainly visible by virtue of the upward inclination of the plate 22, and the corners formed by the straight rear end I9 of the shoe 9 will thus be visible during special ironing operations. While the heatin chamber I will be properly heated during normal use of the improved iron, excessive radiation of heat from the chamber I5 is avoided by having the main casing i4 totally enclosed; and undesirable radiation of heat from the casing I 4 to the handle 16 is eliminated by the special formation of the ventilating band I! which contacts the casing it only at the local lugs or prolections 33. The wheel 50 is also readily manipulable by the thumb of an operator utilizing the iron, and the assemblage obviously presents a neat and highly finished appearance.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that our present invention provides an improved electric flat-iron assemblage which besides being simple and durable in construction is highly efiicient in use and flexible in its adaptations. The handle i6 is most effectively ventilated and cooled at all times, and the parts may be quickly assembled or dismantled so as to permit inspection of normally concealed parts. The micrometer adjustment afforded by the adjustable set screw 53 cooperating with the thermostat control spindle 5|, and the serrated formation of the end of the spindle which cooperates with the hand wheel 50, obviously will permit accurate initial setting of the control mechanism. The springs 46 which cooperate with the It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a flat-iron, an ironing shoe, an electric heating element coacting with said shoe, a casing coacting with said shoe to provide an enclosed heating chamber exposed to the shoe, said casing having thereon front and rear rigid upstanding hollow bosses, a handle spaced from the top of said casing by said bosses, pins rigidly secured to said handle and extending through said bosses, means within the space between said handle and casing and coacting with said bosses and said pins to fasten said handle to said casing, and a single continuous perforated band interposed between the top of said casing and the periphery of said handle and surrounding said space and said fastening means.

2. In a fiat-iron, an ironing shoe, an electric heating element coacting with said shoe, a sheetmetal casing coacting with said shoe to provide a chamber above the shoe, said casing having thereon front and rear bosses, a unitary handle formed of heat insulating material and having an integral widened base overlying and spaced from the top of said casing by said bosses, means coacting with said bosses and with said handle base for detachably attaching the handle to the casing, a thermostat for controlling the heating of said shoe by said element and being confined within said chamber, a control shaft for said thermostat having an upper serrated end projecting through the top of said casing and into said handle base, and an adjusting wheel for said shaft rotatable within said handle base beneath the handle grip and having a central serrated ends of the contact pins 4|, serve to eliminate spark gaps in the electric current conducting elements, and the provision of the insulating block 42 confined within the socket 38 of the handle base l8, permits ready renewal of the conductor cord. As previously indicated, proper ventilation of the manipulating handle it is assured at all times, and the totally enclosed casing ll besides eliminating undesirable heat radiation, also thoroughly protects and'conceals the more delicate parts of the assemblage. The inclined rear shelf plate 22 insures proper vision of the ironing shoe 9 at all times and also cooperates with the front boss 24 to maintain the heating element H in proper position, and the improved iron assemblage may obviously be manufactured at moderate cost and presents an extremely attractive appearance by virtue of the concealed disposition of the fastening elements which connect the several parts of the unit. It is also to be noted that with the improved assemblage, perfect electrical insulation is obtained between the various coacting parts of the structure, and especially between the electric current conductors and the metallic casing, plates and ironing shoe.

opening slip fitting said shaft end and held thereon by said handle and casing attaching means.

3. In a fiat-iron, an ironing shoe, an electric heating element coacting with said shoe, a sheetmetal casing coacting with said shoe to provide a chamber above the shoe, a thermostat for controlling the heating of said shoe by said element and being confined within said chamber, a unitary handle formed of heat insulating material and having an integral widened base provided with a circular lower recess and overlying the top of said casing beneath the handle grip, a control shaft for said thermostat projecting through the top of said casing and having a serrated upper extremity extending centrally into said handle base recess, an adjusting wheel for said shaft rotatably confined within said recess beneath the handle grip and having a central serrated opening slip fitted upon said shaft extremity, and means for detachably attaching said handle base to the top of said casing to retain said wheel within said recess and in coaction with said shaft end.

4. In a fiat-iron, an ironing shoe, an electric heating element coacting with said shoe, a sheetmetal casing coacting with said shoe to provide a chamber above the shoe, a thermostat for controlling the heating of said shoe by said element and being confined within said chamber, a unitary handle formed of heat insulating material and having an integral widened base provided with a circular lower recess and overlying the top of said casing beneath the handle grip, a control shaft for said thermostat projecting through the top of said casing and having a serrated upper extremity extending centrally into said handle base recess, an adjusting wheel for said shaft rotatably confined within said recess beneath the handle grip and having a central serrated opening slip fitted upon said shaft extremity, said wheel also having a socket opening toward the bottom thereof, an eccentric pin projecting into said socket laterally of said shaft, and means for detachably attaching said handle base to the top of said casing to retain said wheel within said recess and said pin within said socket.

5. In a flat-iron, an ironing shoe, an electric heating element coacting with said shoe, a sheetmetal casing coacting with said shoe to provide a chamber above the shoe, a thermostat for controlling the heating of said shoe by said element and being confined within said chamber, a unitary handle formed of heat insulating material and having an integral wide base provided with a circular bottom recess and overlying the top of said casing beneath the handle grip, an adjusting wheel for said thermostat having its periphery snugly embraced but rotatably confined within said circular recess, said wheel being removable through the lower open end of said recess when said handle base is released from said casing, a

control shaft for said thermostat, means providing a detachable connection between said shaft and said wheel formed to permit angular adjustment of the wheel about the shaft, and means for detachably attaching said handle base to the top of said casing to normally retain said wheel within said recess.

FRED BUSCH.

ALFRED WILD.

REFERENCES CIT The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,421,850 Shirk et al. July 4, 1922 1,7 61,202 Endorf June 3, 1930 1,996,157 Jeppsson Apr. 2, 1935 2,180,399 Clark Nov. 21, 1939 2,208,432 Samuels July 16, 1940 2,235,479 Gaugh Mar. 18, 1941 2,299,462 Clark et a1 Oct. 20, 1942 2,320,013 Scharf May 25, 1943 2,333,521 Clark et a1 Nov. 2, 1943 2,353,151 Elsemheimer July 11, 1944 

